No need to exaggerate – life is strange enough as is.

Singapore’s Clarke Quay

Call it gentrification, redevelopment, or whatever you wish – Singapore has its fair share of repurposed properties, and Clarke Quay is one of them.

Just one riverbend upstream from Boat Quay, Clarke Quay is an upscale, nighclubby type of place for tourist types to hang out.

The plaque describing Clarke Quay isn’t all that interesting – what’s fascinating is we’re thousands of miles from England and the United States, surrounded by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia ad Viet nam – yet you wouldn’t know it by signage!

We had a keen observer whilst reading said plaque…

Clarke Quay is far more integrated and deliberate in intent and purpose – felt like an ersatz strip mall, in my opinion.

Okay – I get it already.

Still – it’s rather pretty in its own sanitized way.

We found ourselves attracted to converted warehouses on the opposite bank, which gave us the ability to observe CQ from a distance.

We took our lunch alfresco under one of the far awnings. A beer hall with an excellent selection, and most relaxing.

Afterwards, we opted to give Clake Quay a closer look.

Singapore has, much like Fremont Street in Las Vegas, opted to cover select streets so as to create open albeit enclosed spaces. I think they did a better job than most, the structure feeling organic. I’ m not a big fan of covered streets, but this one worked rather well. I prefer my outside to be, well….outside.

Side note: I love watching the Pheebs walk – especially in that dress.

(sigh)

Near the end of Clarke Quay, we encountered something which made us smile.

A random sidewalk-level water fountain enjoyed by a couple of kids. The girl squealed with delight while taking public bidet.

Yes – it was! And yes. I miss you too. Islands under a low pressure trough and has been dreary gray almost every day since you’ve been gone. Rained all day yesterday and all night – even had thunder, which is very odd for the tropics.